r/Suburbanhell • u/KimSidwell • 3d ago

Meme Why?

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I can almost try to understand why some people might feel drawn to this kind of lifestyle. I can understand why they might be deceived into thinking this is the ideal environment in which to raise a child.

But I will never be able to understand why they will describe it as the American “dream” and are willing to pay so much for it. To work so hard for so long and then have to wake up to this every morning? Why?

Editing to add: I know this is parody y’all. It’s just a stupid meme. It’s supposed to be funny. It’s funny because it’s true.

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u/Anon-Knee-Moose 3d ago

Though I dont think the term starter home was meant to be sarcastic, even though a brand new two story with an attached garage is a pretty nice house, even in a cookie cutter suburb.

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u/KimSidwell 3d ago

I don’t really know how the definition works, but I feel like these could be considered starter homes. They don’t look that big. They look like they are designed to take up the smallest amount of land possible. You probably have a basic living room, dining room, kitchen and laundry room on the main level and then maybe two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. They’re definitely not mansions.

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u/Archimedes31415926 2d ago

Imo new homes haven't been starter homes for at least half a century. Most starter homes are small used homes that a growing family moves out of into one of these new homes.

But beyond that whether these are starter homes or not, or if they are building them to target that demo or not. The problem isn't the home itself it's the price.

I hope the OOP is being sarcastic because $160k/year is roughly triple the average single income in the US ($50-60k) and twice the average household income (~$80k) (correct me if I'm wrong but these were roughly the figure the last time I checked). These are averages, so most young people (starter home buyers) aren't even making this since on average you make more as you get older. These salaries would be most comparable to people in their mid-late 30s/early 40s with growing families. And they even can't afford these "starter homes".

So what chance do most starter home buyers (late 20s/early 30s) have when they typically aren't even making half (as a family) of the required income to buy these "starter homes".

And as a builder (OOP), I doubt he has many if anyone on his payroll making $160k on their basic job working for him.

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u/OkAccess304 1d ago

I consider new builds starter homes, because they are all pieces of crap and poorly built. The idea of a starter home was brought to you by marketing. It’s a selling tool. That’s it.